CFP: ARC Network for Early European Research (Australia) (12/1/06; 7/3/07-7/8/07)

Inaugural International Conference3-8 July, 2007, The University of Western Australia

Networks, Communities, Continuities: Europe 400-1850

Call for Proposals

The Australian Research Council Network for Early European Researchis a national framework for enhancing Australian research into theculture and history of Europe between the fifth and early nineteenthcenturies. The Network aims to foster innovative research and newconnections between researchers, with a special interest in promotinginterdisciplinary and international contacts and collaborations.

The inaugural International NEER Conference seeks to fulfil theseaims by inviting proposals for sessions addressing:* the conference theme, Networks, Communities, Continuities: Europe 400-1850,OR* one of the Network's identified research themes:- cultural memory: the persistence of early European culture into thepresent as the major component of Australia's cultural memory.- social fabric: social structures in early Europe, and theirrelationship to contemporary issues, especially poverty; families andgender; war, peace and conflict.- intellectual formations: science, medicine and philosophy- early European/Australasian connections: the significance of earlyEuropean contacts with the peoples of the Australasian region- religion and spirituality: the diversity of religious practice,thought and spirituality that shape European identity,OR* other emerging topics of research

The conference will have a rich programme of plenary speakers whowill address the conference theme. Confirmed speakers include:

* Michael Bennett, Professor of History at the University of Tasmania* Gene Brucker, Professor Emeritus of History at the University ofCalifornia, Berkeley* Hal Cook, Professor and director, The Wellcome Trust Centre for theHistory of Medicine at University College London* Yasmin Haskell, Cassamarca Associate Professor in Latin Humanism atthe University of Western Australia* Jean Howard, William B. Ransford Professor of English at Columbia University* Ludmilla Jordanova, Chair in Modern History, King's College London* Stephen Knight, Professor of English Literature at Cardiff University, Wales* Constant Mews, Director of Centre for the Study of Religion andTheology at Monash University* Rosemary Sweet, Professor of Urban History at the University of Leicester

In the spirit of promoting collaborative endeavour, developingresearch contacts and advancing the frontiers of early Europeanresearch, the conference programme includes sessions and activitiesin a variety of formats.

1. Panel Sessions

Panel sessions of one hour will be devoted to discussion ofpre-circulated papers (5000 words max). The conference organisersenvisage a format of four presenters speaking briefly (5 mins) totheir papers, available on the conference website, followed bydiscussion. Alternative formats, such as workshops on identifiedreadings or defined agendas, are also possible. This will, we hope,lead to informed, engaged and lively discussion on the papers, and tothe future advancement of topics and themes.

Individuals or groups interested in organising a panel session shouldsubmit session proposals to conference organisers by Friday 1December 2006. Session proposals should include: session title,session description (150 words),- name and contact details of session organiser,- names and affiliations of participants,- titles and abstracts of papers (150 words), where relevant.Papers or other material to be posted on the conference websiteshould be submitted by 31 May 2007.

Interested participants should also watch for calls for papers issuedby the theme leaders, or their delegates, of the Network's fiveresearch themes.

2. Poster Session(s)

The Poster session is an opportunity for individuals who are notparticipating in panel sessions to show their work. Postgraduates andearly career researchers are particularly encouraged to submit aposter. Poster proposals, including name, contact details and titleof research project, should be submitted to conference organisers by1 December 2006.

3. Activities

To provide conference delegates with opportunities for interactingwith each other and exploring the environs of the conference, therewill be a number of additional activities:* guided or self-conducted lunchtime walks* short excursions: Tuesday 'orientation tours' by tram or river;Friday afternoon in Fremantle* day trips (Sunday): winery tour to the Swan Valley or visit to NewNorcia, a monastery town 120km north of Perth (trips will depend onlevel of interest).

Funding for panel sessions:

Funding for panel sessions has been approved by the NEER ManagementCommittee as follows:

* $1000 per panel will be available, on application, where apanel has a member who is travelling from overseas and has no othersource of funding.

* $500 per panel will be available, on application, where a panelhas a member who is travelling within Australia and has no othersource of funding.

* 10 postgraduate student bursaries of up to $500 each will beavailable, on application, for Australian or New Zealand NetworkParticipants who are involved in a panel session. Preference will begiven to postgraduates who have not yet received funding from NEER.